Maria C. R. Harrington, Ph.D.
The Harrington Lab: https://virtualnature.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariacrharrington
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6OAQVyQAAAAJ&hl=en
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@mariaharrington2565/videos
Education
Ph.D. in Information Science, School of Information
Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 2008
M.S. in Information Science, School of Information Sciences,
University of Pittsburgh, 1990
B.S. in Economics, Art minor, Carnegie Mellon University, 1988
Ph.D. Dissertation
Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2008). Ph.D. Thesis: Simulated
Ecological Environments for Education (SEEE): A
Tripartite Model Framework of HCI Design Parameters for Situational Learning in
Virtual Environments Available on D-Scholarship@Pitt http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/8971/
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/816,357
“Simulated Ecological Environments for Education and Methods of Creating and
Implementing Same” (June 23, 2006)
Current Employment
Since 2016 University of Central Florida
Associate Professor (Tenured 2022 – Present) Orlando, FL
College of Sciences, Nicholson School of Communication and
Media, Games and Interactive Media Program, Digital Media M.A. Program
Secondary Joint Appointment UCF Learning Sciences Cluster
(May 2019 – Present)
Graduate Faculty Member, College of Graduate Studies (2016 –
Present)
Modeling and Simulation MS and PhD programs (June, 2022 –
Present)
Education PhD, Exceptional Education Track program (February,
2023 – Present)
Assistant Professor (2016 – 2022)
College of Arts and Humanities, School of Visual Arts and
Design (2016 – 2020)
Graduate Faculty Member, Texts and
Technology Ph.D. Program (2016 – 2020)
Principle investigator on several grants developing digital
twins of natural environments and the design, development, and evaluation of
immersive informal learning applications. Taught in graduate and undergraduate
programs, chaired or committee member on graduate student research, mentored,
advised undergraduates in research, and developed seven new courses. Service to
community includes editorial boards, grant review panels, invited peer reviews,
and university, college, school, and department committees. Community service
engagement served on parks and science center advisory boards, collaboration
with museums and parks to engage the public in learning about the natural world
through immersive applications.
Honors and Awards
2023 ACM SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater 50th Year Retrospective
Celebration, The Virtual UCF Arboretum (Invited)
2022 University of
Central Florida, College of Sciences, Excellence in Research Award
2022 University of
Central Florida, Nicholson School of Communication and Media, Outstanding
Creative Activity Award
2021 Association for
Educational Communications and Technology (AECT),
Learner Engagement Division, Outstanding Digital Learning Artifact Award
2021 Museum and Web
International Conference, MW21 GLAMi Award, Finalist
in Resources for Scholars and Researchers Category
2020 Museum and Web
International Conference, MW20 GLAMi Award, Finalist
in Exhibition Media or Experience: Immersive Media (AR/VR/Environmental)
2019 Carnegie Museum
of Natural History, Research Associate (Invited, three year
appointment)
2018 Carnegie Museum
of Natural History, Powdermill Nature Reserve, Artist in Residence Award
2017 University of
Central Florida, Office of Research and Commercialization, Mentoring Program
Award
2006 University of
Pittsburgh, 30th Annual Honors Convocation, Outstanding Graduate
Student Award
2005 University of
Pittsburgh, School of Information Sciences, Allen Kent Award
Creative Works Overview
Since 2016, The Harrington Lab has produced two major
digital twins of natural environments as multistage projects, The Virtual UCF
Arboretum Projects and the AR Perpetual Garden Apps Projects. The applications were
completed and launched on global digital distribution channels representing an
exceptionally high level of product design and project management and broader
impact using AR and VR technologies. Several international and national awards,
grants, and commercialization have resulted from this effort. The current work
is based on a 2003 application, The Virtual Trillium Trail Project,
that pioneered the method of using geographical information system (GIS)
datasets from ESRI of natural environments, to extract,
transform, and load geospatial files into Unreal Tournament to create a MOD
application as an early digital twin of the natural environment. Uniquely it
visualized biological plot study data immersing the user in a 3D photorealistic
geospatial virtual forest. The applications were designed
to be use in an experimental research studies and as a validated and reliable test
instrument of the real environment. The research design isolated the
application’s design factors to measure informal learning outcomes in causal
and correlational relationships. The goals of all of my
creative works are to intentionally and deliberately design applications that
are both beautiful and functional. The main research focus is on the design,
development, and evaluation of immersive informal learning applications using
digital twins of the natural environment. Immersion and embodiment design
dimensions are explored as new technology enters the
augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) off-the-shelf product market.
My design process is an extension
of traditional user centered design to include domain experts, stakeholders,
educators, and learners in a multi-cyclical and iterative multidisciplinary
co-creative process. I call this process the Expert –
Learner – User – Experience (ELUX) process. This
process also considers tasks, goals, and objectives for excellent user
experience, while integrating innovations in technology for publication and
dissemination considerations. Digital distribution channels, legal, and
financial constraints are considered important
multidimensional design factors. The designs of the resulting applications are
evaluated using mixed-methods in IRB research studies for publications in
journals and conferences for broader social and educational impact. All
projects provided research, funding, awards, commercialization, and educational
opportunities. There are several current multidisciplinary collaborative
research projects in process across the university in Psychology, Education,
and the Modeling and Simulation programs.
- My
creative works have resulted in UCF Technology Transfer and
Commercialization, UCF Copyright Disclosures, and UCF License Agreements,
resulting in about 480,000 downloads from digital distribution channels
worldwide of all products, demonstrating impact of creative works.
- The AR Perpetual Garden
App, co-created with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Powdermill
Nature Reserve, represents two visualizations amplified with bioacoustics,
story, and facts and use in experimental research studies on informal
learning, may still be found on the Apple iTunes Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ar-perpetual-garden/id1438086490
- The Virtual Garden
Timeline co-created with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and
Powdermill Nature Reserve, represents about 250 native plants and
displayed in a 3D spatial and temporal timeline: https://virtualgarden.powdermill.org/
The Virtual UCF Arboretum Project (2016 –
Present)
The Virtual UCF Arboretum Project is an investigation of the
design, development, and evaluation of immersive informal learning applications
created to work as an educational simulation field trip. It is unique in that
it visualized ESRI geographic information system
(GIS) data of native plants and flowers over a large open world to represent
100 hectares (247 acres) of a Central Florida landscape in Epic Games Unreal
Engine. The project has several collaborations and partnerships. The
application was co-created in a multidisciplinary
effort, between Digital Media and the UCF Arboretum team, staff, and faculty in
Biology. Research partners are in the department of Psychology and industry. As an example of an
early digital twin of a natural environment, it achieves high information
accuracy in the plant models, inventory, and distribution data, with
photorealistic detail to match the real environment. The design not only
visualized the data, but also made all objects interactive, and using metadata
connected graphical objects to the semantic data to produce an interactive
learning user interface. The resulting work is an immersive, multimodal,
interactive, geospatial data visualization experienced as an embodied digital
twin of the real world.
- The Virtual UCF
Arboretum version 1.0, (2016 – 2021), Epic Games MegaGrant
2020: The original Unreal Engine 4.3 application created in a
multidisciplinary effort across Digital Media, Biology, Ecology, and the
UCF Arboretum staff.
Several peer-reviewed journal papers, international
peer-reviewed conferences papers, awards, and grants have resulted from
this effort. Student learning experiences, graduate student research and
thesis, and broader impact with the Orlando Science Center, ACM SIGGRAPH, Muse Web, have resulted. The
models are being used by M3DVR, Cesium, Blackshark.ai, Presegis,
and others in the commercial markets. Download application (4,510
downloads): https://the-harrington-lab.itch.io/the-virtual-ucf-arboretum Download FREE plants (450,000 downloads):
https://unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/profile/The+Harrington+Lab+at+UCF?count=20&sortBy=effectiveDate&sortDir=DESC&start=0
Video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC41UPaOORst2jh7XWwskYXw/videos
- Integration
of The Virtual UCF Arboretum with a treadmill and overhead projector to
investigate health and wellbeing impacts: UCF ORC VPR
Advancement of Early Career Researchers (AECR),
(2019 – Present): The Virtual UCF Arboretum was integrated with a normal
treadmill and projector, but user interaction experience allows the user
free choice in geospatial navigation (360 degree freedom) and to walk in
any direction of choice with a normal stride. Such a simple user
interface was achieved through connecting and
programming hand-controllers to allow the user to push buttons in either
hand to control the view display while walking and creating the illusion
of control over direction. The study was disrupted
during COVID and forced a pilot test online. The
lab has only recently reopened to support the larger study. Video: The Virtual UCF Arboretum
VR Headset and Treadmill Project, 2019: GaIM collaboration with Dept.
Psychology, COS, UCF https://photos.app.goo.gl/CnPvvjY1qZ2k8X2m6
- Unreal Engine 5 update
for Higher Information Fidelity, Graphical Fidelity, Visual Fidelity, and
Immersion, The Virtual UCF Arboretum version 2.0 (2022 – 2023), UCF
Research Foundation GAP Fund Award (2022 – 2023): The Virtual UCF
Arboretum and all plant models have been updated to work in Unreal Engine
5. The work was invited and featured in ACM SIGGRAPH
2023 Electronic Theater 50th Year Retrospective Celebration. Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/r9I0XuI6NmY?si=DA3Z2EDUIPmP_8Ca
- Integration of The
Virtual UCF Arboretum with Infinadack’s
Omnidirectional Treadmill, High Immersion and High Embodiment, (2020 –
Present), The Virtual UCF Arboretum was integrated with an Infinadeck
omnidirectional treadmill and an HTC Vive VR headset in a collaboration
with M3DVR, a local Orlando startup. The application configuration
supported a graduate student thesis research study, and an
paper was accepted for publication at I/ITSEC
2023. Video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/txyNVUvcMGXsDBF66
The AR Perpetual Garden App Project (2017 –
Present)
The AR Perpetual Garden App is an augmented reality app that
was launched on the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Apple iTunes and Google Play Android stores in 2018. As one of the first to use
SLAM technology (ARCore and ARKit
SDKs) it visualized a forest understory as a type of a
native botanical garden and as a virtual extension to a museum diorama. It is
unique as it offers an immersive, multimodal, interactive, embodied experience
(e.g. AR Holodeck). Several IRB approved informal learning and user experience study evaluations were conducted onsite with
the public, and resulted in several papers published at ACM, IEEE, journals,
and awards. The study showed the importance of design factors of story and
facts, and the correlation of immersive AR to story and facts to drive higher
learning outcomes. Emotional outcomes were stronger in the AR condition when compared
to the control, and emotions are correlated to
learning outcomes. Download application (29,906 downloads): https://the-harrington-lab.itch.io/the-ar-perpetual-garden-apps UCF Story photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1mnd1YvtwfSQMom9A Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/maJ7iOu2BT4?si=SeV5OnXBWcrwb5DH
The Virtual Trillium Trail Project (2008)
The Virtual Trillium Trail Project was a modification to
Unreal Tournament used to create one of the first data visualizations of a
nature preserve. Part of a Ph.D. dissertation in information science
(2003-2008), mixed-methods were used in the research design to measure
usability, emotional, behavioral, and learning outcomes influenced by design
factors in an immersive and embodied virtual field trip.
The pilot study showed the real field trip to be a superior
learning environment overall as there were more salient signals in the real
environment. However, the virtual matched real emotional and learning outcomes
when the content was identical. Evidence of priming, transfer, and
reinforcement were measured, indicating that the best
educational practices are to use the virtual and real experiences together to
prime, transfer, and reinforce.
Visual Fidelity (high information fidelity, high graphical
fidelity, high visual fidelity, and high immersion) and Navigational Freedom
(360 free choice in navigation and exploration and high embodiment) showed
significant statistical interaction and effects on emotional, behavioral, and
learning outcomes. The combined conditions of both High Visual Fidelity and High Navigational Freedom resulted in superior Knowledge Gained on
tests, (Mean = 37.44% increase in test scores, SD = 13.88) when compared to the
Low Visual Fidelity and Low Navigational Freedom conditions (Mean = 20.93 %
increase in test scores, SD = 13.36). The study showed the importance of the
design choices on learning outcomes, independent of all other factors.
The results show emotional correlations to learning
outcomes. Beauty, as a factor in the design, is correlated
to awe and wonder, and awe and wonder is correlated to higher learning
outcomes, thus suggesting a complex, multidimensional model for immersive
informal learning application design effectiveness.
Download: https://the-harrington-lab.itch.io/the-virtual-trillium-trail
Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/CMIhdzsOlTk?si=92CNYqqKnJG0IJn9
Published Refereed Research
International Published Journal
Articles (Peer-Reviewed)
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (March 13, 2023). Virtual Nature Makes
Knowledge Beautiful. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 4.
Sec. Virtual Reality and Human Behaviour. doi: 10.3389/frvir.2023.1100540, URL = https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2023.1100540
- Harrington, Maria, C. R., Bledsoe, Z.,
Jones, C., Miller, J., Pring, T. (2021). Designing a Virtual
Arboretum as an Immersive, Multimodal, Interactive, Data Visualization
Virtual Field Trip. Multimodal Technologies and
Interaction, 5(4), 18. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/mti5040018
(Scopus Citescore 3.7)
- Harrington, Maria, C. R., Tatzgern, M.
Langer T., Wenzel, J. W. (2019). Augmented Reality Brings the Real World
into Natural History Dioramas with Data Visualizations and Bioacoustics at
the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Curator: The Museum Journal, 62(2),
177 – 193. First published in Wiley Online Library (April 19, 2019). DOI: 10.1111/cura.12308, (SJR H-index:
8, a premiere international journal for museums)
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2012). The Virtual
Trillium Trail and the Empirical Effects of Freedom and Fidelity on
Discovery-based Learning. Springer Nature: Virtual Reality, 16(2),
105 – 120. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-011-0189-7
(Impact Factor: 5.095)
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2011). Empirical
Evidence of Priming, Transfer, Reinforcement, and Learning in the Real and
Virtual Trillium Trails. IEEE Transactions on Learning
Technologies, 4(2), 175 – 186. https://www.computer.org/csdl/journal/lt/2011/02/tlt2011020175/13rRUxjQyrq
(Impact Factor: 3.32)
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2009). An Ethnographic
Comparison of Real and Virtual Reality Field Trips to Trillium Trail: The
Salamander Find as a Salient Event. In Freier,
N.G. & Kahn, P.H.
(Eds.), Children, Youth and Environments: Special Issue on Children in
Technological Environments, 19(1), 74 – 101. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.19.1.0074?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
International Published In
Proceedings (Peer-Reviewed Conferences)
- Martin, Fred and Harrington, Maria (in press, 2023). “Learning and
Emotional Outcomes in an Immersive Omnidirectional Pilot Study,” 2023 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and
Education Conference (I/ITSEC).
Orlando, Florida, November 30, 2023.
- Harrington, Maria C. R., Jones, Chris, Peters, Crissy.
(August, 2022). “Course on Virtual Nature as a
Digital Twin: Botanically Correct 3D AR and VR Optimized Low-polygon and
Photogrammetry High-polygon Plant Models.” ACM Special
Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques Conference 2022
Courses (ACM SIGGRAPH 2022 Courses). Vancouver, Canada and Virtual Event, USA, August 7 - 11, 2022;
ACM: New York, NY, USA. DOI 10.1145/3532720.3535663. https://s2022.siggraph.org/presentation/?id=gensub_252&sess=sess217#038;sess=sess217
- Harrington, Maria C. R. (August, 2021).
“Virtual Nature.” ACM Special Interest Group on Computer
Graphics and Interactive Techniques Conference 2021 Birds of a Feather
(ACM SIGGRAPH 2021 BOF).
Virtual Event, USA, August 9 - 13, 2021; ACM: New York,
NY, USA. https://s2021.siggraph.org/presentation/?id=bof_136&sess=sess429
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (August, 2020). Augmented and Virtual Reality Application Design for Immersive
Learning Research Using Virtual Nature: Making Knowledge Beautiful and
Accessible with Information Fidelity. In Proceedings of the ACM Special
Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques Conference
Talks (SIGGRAPH ’20 Talks). Virtual
Event, USA, August 17, 2020; ACM: New York, NY, USA, 2 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3388767.3407318
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (June, 2020). Virtual Dioramas Transform Natural History Museum Exhibit
Halls & Gardens to Life with Immersive AR. In Proceedings of ACM
SIG CHI The ACM Interaction Design and Children
(IDC) Conference 2020: Demos & Art Exhibition. London, UK. June 21 – 24, 2020: Association for Computing Machinery, New
York, NY, USA, 276 – 279. https://doi.org/10.1145/3397617.3402036
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (June, 2020).
Connecting User Experience to Learning in an Evaluation of an Immersive,
Interactive, Multimodal Augmented Reality Virtual Diorama in a Natural
History Museum & the Importance of Story. In Proceedings
of the IEEE, iLRN 2020: 6th International
Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network. San Luis
Obispo, California. June 21 – 25, 2020. DOI:
10.23919/iLRN47897.2020.9155202
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (March, 2020)
Observation of Presence in an Ecologically Valid Ethnographic Study Using
an Immersive Augmented Reality Virtual Diorama Application. In Proceedings of the 2020 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality
and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW).
Atlanta, GA, USA (virtual), March 22 – 26, 2020; 813-814. DOI: 10.1109/VRW50115.2020.00257
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (March, 2020). Augmented and Virtual Reality Dioramas and Arboretums for
Museum XR Exhibition Engagement and Learning
Design as a Lightning Talk. In Proceedings of the
24th Annual MuseWeb Conference MW20: MW 2020.
Los Angeles, CA. March 31 – April 4, 2020. Harrington, Maria. Published
March 28, 2020. Consulted
March 28, 2020.
https://mw20.museweb.net/proposal/augmented-and-virtual-reality-dioramas-and-arboretums-for-museum-xr-exhibition-engagement-and-learning-design/
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (April, 2019). Virtual Dioramas Inside and Outside Museums with the AR
Perpetual Garden App. In Proceedings of the Annual
MuseWeb conference MW19: MW 2019. Boston,
MA. Published online February 14, 2019. Consulted March 13, 2019, April 2 – 6. https://mw19.mwconf.org/paper/virtual-dioramas-inside-and-outside-of-museums-with-the-ar-perpetual-garden-app
- Harrington, Maria C. R. (November 3 – 4, 2017). Ripples in a Pond:
How Virtual Reality may be a Tool of Impact for the Humanities. In Proceedings of the HASTAC 2017,
UCF, Orlando, FL.
- Portnoy, F., Smith, L., Harrington, Maria, C. R., Kremer, K.,
Nichols, T., & Zammitto, V. (September 19 – 23,
2011). Facing the Human Factors Challenges in Game
Design: A Discussion Panel. In Proceedings from the Human Factors
and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 55(1), 520 – 524. Las Vegas,
Nevada. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1071181311551106
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (May 13-15, 2011). The Virtual Trillium
Trail — An Educational Simulation of the North
American Forests. In Proceedings of the iED Summit: Immersive Education Initiative: Boston
Summit 2011. Boston College, Boston, MA.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (June 3 – 5, 2009). Meta-ontologies
for Learning in Virtual and Augmented Realities. Presented at the ACM-SIGCHI IDC09: The 8th International Conference on Interaction Design and
Children Workshop on Children and Mobile Technology: Interface Development
for Mobile Touch Devices. Como, Italy.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (March 10 – 13, 2008). A Demonstration of
Virtual Trillium Trail, a Simulation of a Fourth Grade Field Trip to a
Wildflower Reserve for Ecology Education. In Proceedings
of the Open Learning Interplay Symposium 2008. Carnegie
Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (July 30 – August 3, 2006). Situational Learning in Real and Virtual Space: Lessons
Learned and Future Directions. In Proceedings of the ACM SIGGRAPH 2006 Educators
program (SIGGRAPH ’06). Association
for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 48 – es.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/1179295.1179344
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (June 28, 2006). Trees
of Life: Models of Children's Creative Processes. In Proceedings of the ACM DIS 2006. State College, PA.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (September 14 – 18, 2005). Virtual Beechwood: Simulated
Ecological Environments for Education. In Proceedings
of the Conference on Spatial Information Theory 2005.
Ellicottville, New York.
National Published In
Proceedings (Peer-Reviewed Conferences)
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (January 22 – 25, 2018). Improving
Psychophysical Well-being and Performance in Isolated, Confined, and
Extreme Environments with Head Mounted Virtual Reality Photorealistic
Simulations of Earth Based Natural Environments. In Proceedings
of the 2018 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop HRP RESEARCH: THE GATEWAY TO MARS, Galveston, TX.
- Larson, S. and Harrington, Maria, C. R. (November 1 – 4, 2012). A
Survey of ABET Accredited, Information Systems, Undergraduate Programs in
the USA. In Proceedings of the Information Systems
Educators Conference (ISECON). New
Orleans, Louisiana. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.296.7010
- Gennari, J., Harrington, Maria, C. R., Hughes,
S., Manojlovich, M., & Spring,
M. (June 15 – 17, 2003). Preparatory Observations on
Ubiquitous Knowledge Environments: The Cyberinfrastructure Information
Ether. In Proceedings from NSF Post Digital
Library Futures Workshop. Chatham, MA.
Regional Published In
Proceedings (Peer-Reviewed Conferences)
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (January 31 – February 2, 2018). Successful Emergent Team Formation Methods and Process at UCF
Digital Media, using Webcourses Discussion Feature and Ideation
Techniques. In Proceedings of the 2018 Sunshine
State Teaching and Learning Conference, St. Petersburg, FL.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (November 10, 2017). The Virtual UCF
Arboretum Project: Work-in-progress Demonstration of a STEM Teaching
Resource, the Website, and Virtual Reality Flowers and Plants. In Proceedings
of the Plants Beyond Limits Conference, University of Central Florida,
Department of Biology, Orlando, FL.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (March 30 – 31, 2012). Birds-of-a-feather
Video Game Development: Overview of the Torque 3D Educational Site
License. In Proceedings of the 27th Annual Spring Conference of the
Pennsylvania Computer and Information Science Educators, Millersville
University, Millersville, PA.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R., & Kovalchick,
L. (March 30 – 31, 2012). Birds-of-a-feather Virtual SRU: How a Project
Management Class used Google Earth and Google Sketch-up. In Proceedings of the 27th Annual Spring Conference of the
Pennsylvania Computer and Information Science Educators. Millersville University, Millersville, PA.
- Hulick, F. and Harrington, Maria, C. R. (November 3 – 6, 2011). The Value of Internships in the Information Systems
Curriculum: A Case Study. In Proceedings of
Information Systems Educators Conference. Wilmington, NC.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (April 8 – 9, 2011). Social Networks, Use and Misuse by Businesses: What Information Systems
Students Need to Know. In Proceedings of the 27th Annual
Spring Conference of the Pennsylvania Computer and Information Science
Educators. Shippensburg University, Shippensburg,
PA.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (April 8 – 9, 2011). Video Game
Development, a Serious Educational Component of the Curriculum. In Proceedings of the 27th Annual Spring Conference of the
Pennsylvania Computer and Information Science Educators. Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (March 19 – 21, 2009). The
Virtual Trillium Trail: An Educationally Effective Simulation for Ecology
Education. In Proceedings of the Pennsylvania
Association of Environmental Educators 2009 Conference, Entriken, PA.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (February 29 – March 1, 2008). A
Demonstration of Virtual Trillium Trail, a Simulation of a Fourth Grade
Field Trip to the Trillium Trail Wildflower Reserve. In Proceedings
of the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators 2008. Conference, Ligonier, PA.
Scholarly Presentation Activity
Invited Workshops
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2018). “Virtual Nature Workshop.” Game
Development and Mixed Reality, MultiMediaTechnology
Program of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Austria, May 14 –
18, 2018.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2022). “Virtual Nature as an Immersive
Digital Twin and the Design Methods, Processes, and Educational
Applications.” University of Arizona, College of Social & Behavioral
Sciences, School of Information, Tucson, Arizona, April 1, 2022.
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2021). “Virtual Nature
and Augmented Reality Application Design and Development Workshop”
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Architecture + Design.
March 30 and April 2, 2021.
Invited Guest Panel
- Harrington, Maria C. R. (April 11, 2023). “Augmented and Virtual
Reality Dioramas and Arboretums for XR
Exhibitions, Engagement, and Learning Design.” Association
of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL).
Atlanta, Georgia.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. (March 31, 2023). “VR/AR A, Central
Florida Immersive Technology Summit – The Future of Education and the Metaverse.” Orlando, Florida.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. (February, 1 2023).
“UCF Accelerating Digital Twins Readiness Workshop – Virtual Nature
Digital Twins.” Orlando, Florida. Orlando, Florida.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. (November, 30
2022). “Virtual Nature Digital Twins Demonstration.” I/ITSEC
2022 for the National Center for
Simulation booth with UCF IST and M&S. Orlando,
Florida. Orlando, Florida.
Invited Talks National
- Harrington, Maria C. R. (June 23, 2021). “Creating Immersive
Augmented Reality Applications for Learning.” Serious Play 2021
Conference, Virtual Reality/Mobile: Cutting Edge Apps For
Training, Education - Interactive Session. Virtual, June 23, 2021. https://www.seriousplayconf.com/2021-program/
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature in AR, MR
& VR, for Data Visualization, Learning & Decision Support.”
Presented at the UCF ORC The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems
Division (NAWCTSD) Poster Session, Orlando, FL, June, 25, 2019.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “AR and VR Virtual Nature Models Ideal for
Informal Learning,” Presented at Serious Play 2019 Conference, UCF FIEA, Orlando, FL., July, 24
– 26, 2019.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature in Augmented reality and
Virtual reality for Informal Learning in Museums and Arboretums.” Presented to the University of Pittsburgh, School of
Information Sciences. Pittsburgh, PA. Dec. 2018 https://pitt.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=4b0724b6-4309-4960-a27f-a9af01247fe8
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Reality matters in virtual reality for
learning sciences research: The Virtual Trillium Trail empirical data and
future fMRI studies.” Presented to the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA; Pittsburgh,
PA, April 2010. http://halley.exp.sis.pitt.edu/comet/presentColloquium.do?col_id=700
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “The Virtual Trillium Trail: The value of
Freedom and Fidelity in the child-computer-environment interface.”
Presented to the Carnegie Mellon Human-Computer Interaction Institute
Seminar Series, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh,
PA. September, 2008. https://hcii.cmu.edu/news/event/2008/09/virtual-trillium-trail-value-freedom-and-fidelity-child-computer-environment-interface
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Simulated ecological environments for
education: Past and future realities.” Presented to the Chatham
University, Pittsburgh, PA, Nov. 2008.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Tips and Tricks of Building Simulated Ecological
Environments for Education: User Centered Design, Activity Analysis,
Prototyping, and Techniques.” Presented to the Carnegie Mellon University,
Entertainment Technology Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Oct.
2008.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “The Virtual Trillium Trail: What if you
could fly over your favorite park, and explore the ecosystem from any
vantage point that you wished?” Presented to the Beechwood
Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel, PA, July. 2008.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “The Poetics of Games: Art, Poetry and Storytelling in Modern Game Design.”
Presented to Art Institute of Pittsburgh;
Pittsburgh, PA, Jan. 2008.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Trillium Trail and Opportunities
for Education in Metaverses and Virtual
Environments.” Presented to the Phipps Conservatory and
Botanical Gardens, Phipps Education Committee, Pittsburgh, PA, Nov. 2007.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Generating High Fidelity, 3D Computer
Graphic Models from Transects and Plot Population Data for Trillium
Trail.” University of Pittsburgh, Department of
Biological Sciences: E&E Seminar, Pittsburgh,
PA. Oct. 2007.
Invited Talks Regional
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature: Making Knowledge
Beautiful, AR/VR/MR Applications for Immersive Informal Learning and
Visual Communications.” UCF NSCM Research and Creativity
Colloquium Series, Orlando, Florida. March 26, 2021.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature.” VRARA Association Central
Florida. Orlando, Florida. February 24, 2021. https://www.thevrara.com/blog2/2021/3/2/recap-of-our-event-leading-edge-xr-research-development-and-education
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature
and Immersive Informal Learning Applications Research Program,” Nicholson
School of Communication and Media Advisory Board Meeting. UCF, Orlando,
Florida. February 17, 2021.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature: Making Knowledge
Beautiful.” Institute of Simulation and Technology, School of Modeling
Simulation and Training, Seminar, University of Central Florida, Orlando,
FL, September 24th, 2020. Video: https://www.ist.ucf.edu/Seminars/-Virtual-Nature-Making-Knowledge-Beautiful
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature in AR and VR: The Virtual
UCF Arboretum Project and the AR Perpetual Garden App Demonstration.”
Exhibition, Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL, January 17-20. 2020.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “The Virtual UCF Arboretum Project,
Website with AR and VR 3D Models, VR Desktop and VR HTC Vive Demonstration
for Orlando Area Educational Outreach and Grant Planning.” UCF CREATE,
College of Arts and Humanities, University of Central Florida. Orlando, FL. April. 2019.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature in Augmented Reality and
Virtual Reality for Informal Learning in Museums and Arboretums and
Graduate Students Course Projects from DIG 6812 Digital Interaction for
Informal Learning.” Dean’s Executive Council, College of
Arts and Humanities, University of Central Florida. Orlando, FL. April. 2019.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “A Virtual Nature Model: Experience
Virtual Nature.” Presented at the Otronicon Speaker
Series, Orlando Science Center. Orlando, FL, January 18-21. 2019.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “The Virtual UCF Arboretum Project
Demonstration.” Exhibition, Orlando Science Center; Orlando, FL, January
18-21. 2019.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature in Augmented Reality and
Virtual Reality for Art and Scientific Research, Applied to Informal
Learning in Museums and Arboretums for Broader Impact.” Biology Seminar,
Presented to the College of Sciences, University of Central Florida.
Orlando, FL. Nov. 2018.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Virtual Nature: AR, VR & MR Knowledge Artifacts for Museums,
Botanical Gardens, and Arboretums,” Presented to the University of Central
Florida, Faculty Panel on Digital Media for the Fall 2018 Introduction to
Ph.D. Text and Technology Program. Orlando, FL. Nov. 2018.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “The Virtual UCF Arboretum Project: An
Educational Simulation of the Real UCF Arboretum using VR and Educational
Website for STEM.” Presented at the Otronicon Speaker Series, Orlando
Science Center, Orlando, FL, January, 12-15. 2018.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “The Virtual Trillium Trail Project.”
Presentation at Otronicon 2017, Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL, Jan
13-16. 2017.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “The Virtual Trillium Trail and
Educational Simulations.” Presented to the University of Central Florida,
Faculty Panel on Digital Media for the Fall 2017
Introduction to Text and Technology course. Orlando, FL. Nov. 2017.
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “A New Paradigm for Virtual Reality &
Simulations for Education, Learning & Creating: The Virtual Trillium
Trail Project – Empirical Evidence on Design Factors in Simulated
Ecological Environments for Education and Causal Impacts on Emotions, Learning,
Priming, Transfer, and Reinforcement.” Presented to the
University of Central Florida, Institute for Simulation and Training,
Modeling and Simulation Seminar, Orlando, FL, Nov. 2016. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-paradigm-virtual-reality-simulations-education-ucf
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “Art and Technology.” Presented to the
University of Central Florida, SVAD Gallery Artist Talk, School of Visual
Arts and Design, Orlando, FL, Nov. 2016. https://www.slideshare.net/MariaCRHarringtonPhD/ucf-svad-art-talk-11162016
- Harrington, Maria C. R. “VR and STEM Education.” Presented to the I/ITSEC 2016 Modeling &
Simulation Conference: K-12 STEM; Orlando, FL, Nov. 2016.
Art Shows
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2017). EXHIBITION:
SVAD Faculty 2017. Presented two works of computer art, “The
Virtual Trillium Trail,” UCF Art Gallery, University of Central Florida,
Aug. 2017
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. (2016). EXHIBITION:
SVAD Faculty 2016. Presented two works of computer art, “The
Virtual Trillium Trail,” UCF Art Gallery, University of Central Florida,
Oct. 2016
- Harrington, Maria, C. R. LOST AND FOUND
2006. Garfield
Artworks Art & Performance Space, Presented
six works of computer art, and a multimedia collage, Pittsburgh, PA. Oct.
2006
Press Coverage with National or
Economic Impact
- UCF Today. (April 24, 2023). “Digital Twins
Created by UCF Associate Professor Enhance Real-World Education – Maria
Harrington’s work with virtual nature emphasizes the importance of
emotions and aesthetics in learning.” Retrieved from https://www.ucf.edu/news/maria-harrington-nature-digital-twin
- Nicole Dudenhoefer. (Spring
2023). “The New Era of Simulation – Exploring Virtual Nature.” Pegasus: The Magazine of the University of Central Florida, 29(1),
p 48. Retrieved from https://www.ucf.edu/pegasus/the-new-era-of-simulation/
- Majdulina, Hamed. (April 3, 2023). “Dr. Maria
Harrington’s Paper Published in a Premiere International Peer-Reviewed
Open Access Journal.” UCF Nicholson School of
Communication and Media. Retrieved from https://communication.ucf.edu/dr-maria-harringtons-paper-published-in-a-premiere-international-peer-reviewed-open-access-journal/
- Majdulina, Hamed. (September 2, 2022). “Dr. Maria
Harrington Presents Course on Virtual Nature as a Digital Twin in
Vancouver.” UCF Nicholson School of Communication and
Media. Retrieved from https://communication.ucf.edu/dr-maria-harrington-presents-course-on-virtual-nature-as-a-digital-twin-in-vancouver/
- Popescu, Iulia. (November 3, 2021). “New AR and
VR Content Pack Makes the Virtual World Bloom.” UCF
Nicholson School of Communication and Media. Retrieved from https://communication.ucf.edu/new-ar-and-vr-content-pack-makes-the-virtual-world-bloom/
- O’Shea, Patrick. (May 9, 2021). “Versatilist
with Maria Harrington.” The Versatilist
published on Apple Podcasts. Retrieved from https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/versatilist-with-maria-harrington/id1016303356?i=1000521023510
- Canales, Jesse. (August 31, 2020). “UCF App Helps Those Isolated
by Coronavirus Get Outdoors.” Spectrum News Channel 13 News.
Retrieved from https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2020/08/31/ucf-professor-uses-app-to-help-those-dealing-with-stress-isolation#
- Kotala, Zenaida.
(May 11, 2020). “Epic Games, maker of Fortnite, awards UCF professor grant
to enhance AR and VR technology.” American Association for the Advancement
of Science (AAAS ) EurekAlert!
Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/uocf-egm051120.php
- Momich, Betsy. (Ed). (Spring
2019). “In Bloom.” Carnegie Magazine, 83(1), p 8. https://carnegiemuseums.org/carnegie-magazine/spring-2019/seen-heard-spring-2019/
- Levere, Jane, L. (March,
12, 2019). “Meeting Old Masters, Rowing With Vikings – in Augmented
Reality.” The New York Times, Arts. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/arts/augmented-reality-app-exhibits.html
- Daly, Jill. (December 26, 2018). “New Carnegie Museum app shows
threat to wildflower diversity in the woods.” Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette. Retrieved from https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2018/12/26/App-augmented-reality-carnegie-powdermill-woodland-diversity-deer-wildflowers/stories/201812130168?fbclid=IwAR3iO0_ZMy4tOXiayU-UPEUvZPEj9eNXB4OTSyiGMzFCpn-bs7oNCZYghEM
- Davis, Kathleen, J. (December 19, 2018). “Augmented Reality App
Shows How Deer Overpopulation Affects Western PA’s Forests.” 90.5 WESA (Pittsburgh, PA, NPR).
Retrieved from https://www.wesa.fm/post/augmented-reality-app-shows-how-deer-overpopulation-affects-western-pas-forests?fbclid=IwAR2Hhud6r0pN9GuFBR-Y8GmgSSxkKDlnC6ItO-ymIFhO8pesb4tArCWHQcU#stream/0
Press Coverage with Regional
Impact
- Majdulina, Hamed. (January 4, 2023). “Dr. Maria
Harrington Presents Digital Twins of Nature in AR and VR.” UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media. Retrieved
from https://communication.ucf.edu/dr-maria-harrington-presents-digital-twins-of-nature-in-ar-and-vr/
- Majdulina Hamed
& Katie Coronado.
(November 1, 2022). “Dr. Maria Harrington Discusses M3DVR and the Virtual
UCF Arboretum.” UCF Nicholson School of Communication
and Media. Retrieved from https://communication.ucf.edu/dr-maria-harrington-discusses-m3dvr-and-the-virtual-ucf-arboretum/
- Staff (July 16, 2021). “Virtual UCF Arboretum Expands Offering for
Digital Game Designers.” UCF COS NEWS. Retrieved from https://sciences.ucf.edu/news/virtual-ucf-arboretum-expands-offerings-for-digital-game-designers/
- Popescu, Iulia. (June 1, 2021). “Groundbreaking
Work Provides Insight on Informal Learning." UCF
Nicholson School of Communication and Media. Retrieved from https://communication.ucf.edu/groundbreaking-work-provides-insight-on-informal-learning/
- Popescu, Iulia. (April 1, 2021). “Virtual
Nature: Making Knowledge Beautiful." UCF Nicholson School of
Communication and Media, Retrieved from https://communication.ucf.edu/virtual-nature-making-knowledge-beautiful/
- Beebe, Kendall. (March 18, 2021). “The benefit of plants on mental
health in a post—pandemic society.” NSM Today,
Retrieved from http://www.nicholsonstudentmedia.com/news/the-benefit-of-plants-on-mental-health-in-a-post-pandemic-society/article_77435666-82e1-11eb-ab38-efd5a32108b8.html
- Kotala, Zenaida.
(August 26, 2020). “UCF Offers Free Nature-themed VR and AR Applications
to Help Students and Those Isolated Because of COVID-19.” UCF Today,
Retrieved from https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-offers-free-nature-themed-vr-and-ar-applications-to-help-students-and-those-isolated-because-of-covid-19/
- Kotala, Zenaida.
(May 11, 2020). “Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, Awards UCF Professor
Grant to Enhance AR and VR Technology.” UCF Today, Retrieved from https://www.ucf.edu/news/epic-games-maker-of-fortnite-awards-ucf-professor-grant-to-enhance-ar-and-vr-technology/
- Giller, Jamie. (May 4, 2020). “Alumni Leading
Virtual Reality: As an undergraduate student, Thomas Pring
’20 worked in two research labs to level up from gamer to virtual reality
game designer.” UCF Today, Retrieved from https://www.ucf.edu/news/leading-virtual-reality/
- Smith, Heather. (December 6, 2018). “UCF Partners with Carnegie
Museum on Augmented Reality App That Brings Gardens to Life.” UCF Today. Retrieved from https://today.ucf.edu/augmented-reality-app-brings-appalachian-wildflower-gardens-life-smartphones
- Martin, Kyle. (December 3, 2018). “The Virtual Arboretum Visits
Coming Soon.” UCF COS NEWS. Retrieved from https://sciences.ucf.edu/news/virtual-arboretum-visits-coming-soon/?fbclid=IwAR34sfbIJuq8IrY0GVs8nlUHrmB2HvtfygUncLRfnX1TptIZpeLkL_39pgU
- Weisberg, Deborah. “Technology Comes to
the Trillium Trail, One Woman’s Efforts Enhance both Education and the
Environment.” Interviewed by The SHADY AVE, Spring 2015
- “The Virtual Trillium Trail, Explore a
virtual forest to learn more about the natural world,” Remake Learning.com
2012. Retrieved from
https://remakelearning.org/project/virtual-trillium-trail/
- INNOVATION & STARTUPS “Fox Chapel students hike the Trillium
Trail virtually and in person,” POP City, Aug. 2012
- “Alumni Trailblazer, Maria C. R. Harrington,” Interviewed by Pitt
Magazine, Imagine, Spring 2012